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First-year Crim participant vows to cross finish line, even 'If I have to crawl'

First Year Crim Runner.JPG

Debra Collins of Linden, 58, stands outside of the University of Michigan-Flint recreation center Wednesday, August 21, 2013 in downtown Flint. Collins will run her first HealthPlus 2013 Crim Festival of Races on Saturday, Aug. 24. Jake May | MLive.com
(Jake May | MLive.com)

View full sizeDebra Collins of Linden, 58, stands outside of the University of Michigan-Flint recreation center Wednesday, August 21, 2013 in downtown Flint. Collins will run her first HealthPlus 2013 Crim Festival of Races on Saturday, Aug. 24. Jake May | MLive.com

FLINT, MI – Nothing will stop Debra Collins from crossing
the Crim's finish line this year. Not even an injury.

Completing the 10-miler is a reachable goal for Collins
and despite a minor setback, the 58-year-old, first-time participant will still competitively
walk the entire blue line on Saturday, Aug. 24

"I'm going to cross the finish line if I have to crawl
across the line," Collins said. "I may have to hobble part of the way. I want
to do this so that I can say that I did it and it's off my bucket list."

The Crim has been on Collins' to-do-list for many years. Despite suffering a stress fracture in her right foot from overtraining, the
Linden resident is determined to finish her first race of any kind. She's been
training for the Crim since January, but the last two weeks have been tough on
her leg.

"I've been training in several different programs because
now that I've gotten stronger, I really like it," Collins said. "I noticed that I
started getting a pain in the top of my foot on the side after I would walk
like a mile or two and then the pain grew to feeling like something sharp was
poking me in the foot."

Collins has had to readjust the way she's walked and the
pain has been unbearable at times. She went in a matter of days from keeping up with the pack
leaders in her CrimFit Adult Training Program group to struggling to stay on
pace with the slower walkers. It's been frustrating, but Collins
hasn't let the stumbling block kill her spirits.

"I've always wanted to do the Crim and I've always wanted to
do a race or something like that," said Collins. "This is the first time that I've
ever committed to something and I've been training now for eight months and I want
to follow through. I'm a follow-through kind of gal."

The idea of participating in this year's Crim first popped
into Collins' head after her daughter-in-law, Catherine Collins, finished the
Lansing Turkeyman Trot last November before their family's annual Thanksgiving
dinner. After Catherine Collins' 5K run went well, Debra Collins became intrigued. She got more active and planned on walking the Crim's 5K, but was encouraged by the
staff to take on the 10-mile challenge.

She began training on her own in January for the Crim's 10-mile
at the University of Michigan-Flint's rec center, where she works as a customer
service specialist. Collins also enrolled in UM-Flint cross-fit classes. The willpower
to focus on active living wasn't shocking to Catherine Collins.

"Debra's dedicated in everything she does," said Catherine
Collins. "When she puts her mind to something, she's going to do it no matter
what and she really has a lot of passion behind everything in her life, so this
is not surprising to see her dedicated to a cause that she's taken on that's important."

Collins' CrimFit Adult Training Program started on May 14
with group leaders Judge Bob Ransom and his assistant Diane Heidenberger. Her enthusiasm
has been infectious from the start and Heidenberger said she is glad that Collins is
following through on her goal. That's what the Crim is all about.

"She was always so eager to learn, and any time we had any
comments made to the group or any hints or suggestions to make things better, she
was always right there to make sure she was doing things the right way,"
Heidenberger said. "She's just an inspiration to all of us. I love to see
people be active."